Anyone who has ever owned a Pitt Bull or Rottweiler will probably tell you about the countless times mothers have clutched their children or people have crossed the street to avoid walking by them. But is this really necessary? Should these (or other dog breeds) be feared or avoided? Is the Chihuahua across the street all bark or will he bite if you come within striking distance? Are these breeds naturally aggressive? The answer to this question may surprise you.
According to the ASPCA, “To say that a dog is “aggressive” can mean a whole host of things. Aggression encompasses a range of behaviors that usually begins with warnings and can culminate in an attack. Dogs may abort their efforts at any point during an aggressive encounter.” An aggressive dog might:
It is important to remember that these behaviors may not happen in this exact order, but many times the dog will growl or give some type of warning before biting. A lot of times when someone says a dog bit them out of nowhere, it is because they did not see (or know) the warning signs that the dog was uncomfortable or becoming aggressive. If a dog is taught not to bark or growl, this may lead to skipping some of these warning behaviors and heading right for snapping…
